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Often, people equate seeking counseling services as a sign of weakness, or that there is something wrong with them. I want to take this opportunity to tell you this is an outdated way of thinking. Therapy is a tool that can be helpful in a wide range of circumstances, from wanting to be your best in relationships, personal life and in the workplace, or for treatment of concerns such as anxiety and depression. As a therapist, it is very rewarding for me to witness the excitement people share when the realize the new directions they can take, and all the potential the awaits them.

Hopefully you are beginning to view counseling services as an investment in your well being and relationships. If you think there are areas in which you can improve your life and efforts to do this on your own haven’t resulted in success, collaboration with a therapist may help you reach your goals.

Sometimes an individual who has experienced a terrifying (traumatic) event will continue to think about it, feel it, and re-experience it no matter how hard she/he tries to forget it. It is important to know that the processing mechanism in the brain can experience a block, and the event does not get fully processed. A full processing includes action in both the right brain and the left brain, which allows the event to become part of the past.

A method for helping the brain to complete the processing is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). It stimulates the coordination of the left and right brain to complete the processing of the traumatic event by the use of bilateral stimulation. Bilateral stimulation is done by visual, tactile, or audio. This is a well developed, studied, and tested method that has proven effectiveness.

It does not mean you have to talk about the event in detail. It is not hypnosis. One does not forget the event but its continuing interruption on life is eliminated or greatly reduced.

There are 8 phases in the treatment. The first phase is a thorough assessment of the individual including history and current symptoms. Length of treatment varies given the individuals specific needs, but often the improvement occurs quite quickly. There is a preparation phase and the pace of treatment is geared to the client’s needs.

Being a parent is one of the most rewarding and exciting experiences life has to offer, it can also be one of the most challenging. These challenges can arise at any time during your child’s life and it can be difficult to know when these challenges are just part of growing up or a sign your child is heading into troubled times.

Here are some signs that your child may need professional assistance to cope with difficult life circumstances.

2. Your child’s behavior or emotional distress is interfering with his or her ability to complete regular daily routines, frequently disrupts normal family functioning, or is preventing the development of age-appropriate milestones.

3. Your child displays an unusual fear of being left alone, going to school, or participating in previously enjoyed activities.

4. Your child’s symptoms or behaviors increase to the point that he/she is socially isolated, exhibiting signs of prolonged depression, disruptive in the classroom, missing school, increasingly argumentative, or defiant about following rules.

5. Your child’s difficulties are interfering with your job or you feel you are unable to effectively manage your child’s behavior or emotional distress.

It is important to remember that your child’s behavior or emotional distress is not a sign of parental failure and seeking assistance from a mental health professional is no different than consulting a physician when your child is sick. Therapists have specialized training and knowledge that enables them to provide effective treatment allowing the child to identify and discuss problems, develop effective coping skills, and resolve emotional issues. Therapists also work with parents to address their concerns, help them understand their child’s needs, and assist them in developing the most effective parenting skills for their child’s success.

To find out more about how counseling can help you and your child, contact Teresa Judy.

Animal assisted therapy can be a powerful tool in helping clients attain their counseling goals. Here are a few of the benefits of this treatment:

1. Having my dog in session often increases the comfort level of clients. This is especially helpful during the early stages of counseling with children who have a difficult time talking about their feelings.

2. It can help children with behavioral problems focus on a positive activity. This includes bonding with the dog, treating it with kindness and respect, and learning behavior modification principles by rewarding the dog for following directions (i.e. doing “tricks”).

3. Interacting with a dog can reduce feelings of anxiety, and provide motivation for clients to attend therapy, who may be otherwise ambivalent about the process.

If you are interested in learning more about animal assisted therapy, contact Michelle Oczki.

Taking the step to work on your relationship can be scary. You may not know what to expect when you enter therapy. Here are some tips that may help you and your significant other get the most out relationship counseling:

Tip #1- The sooner a couple enters counseling when difficulties arise, the better. All too often, people wait until they are on the verge of ending the relationship before seeking help. Counseling can still be effective in these circumstances, but why wait for this to happen? It can be empowering to take charge of your issues, instead of allowing them to drive you and your loved one apart.

Tip #2- Motivation is one of the most important factors in determining the effectiveness of your therapy. Entering counseling only to appease your significant other does not work. If your current motivation to improve your relationship is low, give it a boost before entering therapy, or during the early stages of counseling. This can be done by making the choice to find something positive your partner brings to the relationship, finding new, relaxed activities to do with them, and remembering why you fell in love in the first place.

Tip #3- Don’t think of your problem as “unfixable”. Research shows that it is not the severity of problems that predict a couple’s longevity and relationship satisfaction, it is the way they communicate about their problems that is important. Your therapist will teach you effective communication skills that can help you build trust and reconnect with your loved one.